Timeline of the struggle to attain marriage equality in Wisconsin:

2006: Wisconsin voters amended the state constitution, by passing Referendum 1, with
a vote of
59% to 41%. This banned both civil unions and marriages by same-sex couples.

2009: Governor Jim Doyle (D) sponsored a bill to create a system of Domestic Partnerships in the state that would give registered same-sex couples a few of the benefits and protections given automatically to all married couples.

2010: The constitutionality of Referendum 1 was challenged in state court, but was upheld by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

2011: An attempt by a conservative group, Wisconsin Family Action, to have domestic partnerships declared unconstitutional failed. A poll in MAY shows that only 42% of Wisconsin voters favor same-sex marriages; 46% were opposed; 12% uncertain.

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2014-FEB: The lawsuit Wolf v. Walker was filed in a federal District Court to seek marriage equality in Wisconsin.

2014-JUN-06: U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb issued a ruling finding that Referendum 1 is unconstitutional because it violates the due process and equal protection clauses in the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Judge Crabb did not immediately stay her ruling. As a result, about 550 same-sex couples were able to obtain marriage licenses and be married.

2014-JUN-13: Judge Crabb did stay her ruling after having received briefs from the plaintiffs and defendants. The Attorney General appealed the case to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The status of the marriages made during the week between the ruling and stay is uncertain. Further developments may cause these newly married couples to be forcibly divorced against their will.

2014-AUG-26: A randomly selected panel of three judges of the 7th U.S. Circuit of Appeals heard an appeal of Wolf v. Walker to overturn Wisconsin's ban of marriages by same-sex couples. During the same session, they also heard an appeal of a consolidated set of three lawsuits challenging Indiana's marriage ban. From the pointed questions asked by the judges, the states failed to make their case against marriage equality.

2014-SEP-04: The panel of three judges unanimously agreed that both the Wisconsin and Indiana marriage bans violated the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Since the U.S. Constitution is the ultimate law of the land, this makes the marriage ban embedded in the Wiskonsin Constitution void and unenforceable. Wisconsin will appeal the case. But a statement by a spokesperson was somewhat ambiguous. It is unclear whether he will appeal the case directly to the U.S. Supreme Court or indirectly to that court via the full 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

2014-OCT-06: The decision of the 7th Circuit Court had been appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, but was rejected by the high court along with appeals from four other states (IN, OK, UT & VA). Marriage licenses were issued to same-sex couples in Wisconsin starting on OCT-06. Couples are expected to start marrying after the five day waiting interval expires. This decision by the Supreme Court subsequently brought same-sex marriage to six additional states: (CO, KS, NC, SC,WV,WY). More details.

This decision will bring same-sex marriage to 11 more states to make a total of 30 states and the District of Columbia with marriage equality. 60% of Americans will live in locations where same-sex couples can marry.

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Topic covered in this section:

Part 1: 2006 to 2011: Bans added to state
Constitution.
Limited
domestic
partnerships
legalized. Poll about SSMs among voters.